Self-taught ink artist Cabanaem‘s improvised drawings fuse lifelong loves of motorcycles and music. Having been exhibited worldwide and with large acclaim from international musicians and bikers, Cabanaem still chases those quiet late-night drawing sessions, where only pen, paper, and good music are needed.
Emilio Cabañas – Cabanaem – (Spanish & Swiss) – 1971. A passion for music and a love for motorcycles brewed within him ever since riding his first motorcycles (Montesa & Puch) in the late 70s, and listening to Springsteen since 1984.
Graduating college in 1995 with a degree in business & law, Cabanaem developed his professional activity in the world of finance. Nevertheless, his infatuation for music never ceased. It wasn’t until 2013, while writing in a Moleskine journal, that Cabanaem spontaneously discovered a new passion for drawing, as a way to fill in the empty pages of his journal. This acute pastime eventually developed into full, ink hand-drawings, that are completely improvised as the art is developed. The post-work, late night tranquility – mixed with some good music – gave Cabanaem the chance to escape the world and create a perfect ‘drawing’ moment.
“All my work is pared back and hand-drawn: The simpler, the better. The only non-negotiable is good music accompanying me in the process.”
Emilio Cabañas – Cabanaem
From 2014 until 2019, Cabanaem’s drawings primarily revolved around motorcycles, with his work being showcased all over the world – notably at Oil & Ink expos (USA) in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, and at the BMW Motorrad Days (Argentina) in 2017. Simulatenously, Cabanaem’s work has been featured in fashion and press – REV Motorcycle Culture Magazine (2017), Super Special Magazine (2019-2023), Hero Seven‘s Autumn – Winter 2017 clothing collection, and 8Js‘ clothing line. This all culminated in 2019, when his collection – 100 COOL RIDERS – was presented and exhibited at the FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) headquarters in Mies (Switzerland), by the hand of FIM president Jorge Viegas, and 31x MotoGP winner Dani Pedrosa.
Since 2020, Cabanaem’s work has derived into the music scene, focusing almost exclusively on portraits of impacting musicians, which has earned him the praises and collaborations of many industry-professionals, most notably members of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, Domingo J. Casas, Rob DeMartin, and Lyle Lovett.
Cabanas resides on the outskirts of Geneva (Switzerland) with his wife and three children.
